Was something in the air this weekend? We saw four unranked teams upset their ranked opponents, plus then-No. 21 UCLA upset No. 13 Oregon in Eugene in a matchup that included 10 turnovers. You heard that right, 10. And No. 2 Georgia earned a huge road victory over No. 6 Alabama.
Following the most chaotic week of college football so far, there are plenty of questions that need answers as we get close to the midpoint of the regular season.
In one of the biggest games of the week, Oklahoma took down No. 1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry game for the first time since 2023 as the Sooners walked it off on a 47-yard field goal by Tate Sandell. Following this big loss for the Longhorns, where does coach Steve Sarkisian think his team needs the most improvement going forward?
In his first year as UCLA's head coach, Bob Chesney has led the Bruins to a 5-0 record for the first time since 2022. It wasn't the prettiest game, with Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola being benched in the second half, UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava having to leave the game with a lower leg injury and a slew of costly turnovers, seven of which were forced by UCLA's defense. But with this outcome, should the Bruins be in the playoff conversation?
Here's the latest top 25 from our college football experts, who take a look at what we learned from each team following a wild Week 6.
1. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous ranking: 2
Despite popular belief, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is talented enough to carry the offense when needed. Two of the Bulldogs' top tailbacks (Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens) and a red zone target (Isiah Canion) missed Saturday's 20-17 win at Alabama because of injuries, and Stockton stepped up when needed most. He completed 18 of 22 passes for 249 yards, scored both of his team's touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and had one interception. Stockton turned in what coach Kirby Smart called the play of the game when he fired a 17-yard pass to tight end Elyiss Williams on third-and-7 from the Georgia 10 with about 2:20 left. That first down helped the Bulldogs run out the clock for their first win in Tuscaloosa since 2007. Stockton is completing 76.6% of his attempts for 1,298 yards with 14 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He's 18-3 as Georgia's starter. -- Mark Schlabach
2. Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 3
The Hurricanes had an open date to get healthy before heading into their rivalry game against Florida State. Though coach Mario Cristobal said he was not going to change anything about the way Miami approached this past week, he did say the week gave his injured players extra time to heal prior to an important stretch. Multiple offensive linemen and starting defensive end Marquise Lightfoot were all injured last time out against Clemson. There is a chance starting defensive back Xavier Lucas returns for the Florida State game after he worked his way back into practice during Clemson week. Other players, including Malachi Toney, have been playing through injuries. So we will see how the time off helped the Hurricanes. -- Andrea Adelson
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 5
The Irish spent the first month of the season looking for some stability in the ground game. They appear to have found it in freshman Jonaz Walton. After a breakout game against North Carolina in Week 5, Walton put on a show against Stanford on Saturday, carrying 13 times for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 58-7 win. Nolan James Jr. added 73 yards and two scores as well, while CJ Carr was near flawless once again. Walton might not fill the lead back role at this point, but he has clearly become a legitimate weapon with more than 300 yards on the ground in the past two games. -- David Hale
4. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 6
As many of the top quarterbacks around the country have suffered an injury or struggle, Jeremiah Smith is putting more daylight between himself and the rest of the Heisman Trophy field. Smith had just three receptions in the first half of a 45-16 victory over Maryland, but they were all dazzling. After two catch-and-run touchdowns, Smith reached back across his body for an acrobatic one-handed grab to convert a third down and give the Buckeyes possession in the red zone. Smith has another opportunity for a showcase performance next weekend at Indiana against the defending national champs in a rematch of last year's Big Ten title game. -- Jake Trotter
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 4
The middle of the Alabama defense was consistently gashed by Georgia on Saturday, in both the run game and throwing the football. That has to get cleaned up against Tennessee on Saturday. The Vols might not have the most explosive offense, but they will run the football between the tackles. How Alabama bounces back from a tough loss against Georgia will be a test of a young team's emotional maturity, especially quarterback Keelon Russell, who settled in after a rough start but ultimately didn't get the job done. Watch the injury report this week, though, with starters Ryan Coleman-Williams, Racin Delgatty and Terrance Green all banged up. -- Alex Scarborough
6. Indiana Hoosiers
Previous ranking: 7
Coach Curt Cignetti's squad trailed for the first time all season Saturday and had to overcome a two-score deficit on the road. The way his Hoosiers responded in the fourth quarter made quite a statement about their toughness and composure. Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh connected on 75- and 44-yard touchdowns to take back the lead late, and Indiana's defense had enough left in the tank to get critical fourth-down stops despite playing 39 more snaps than its offense. Cignetti will find a lot on tape from this one that he won't love, and there's a tougher test up next in Ohio State, but the way his players dug deep and escaped with a tough one-score win over an undefeated opponent was highly encouraging for this team's continued growth. -- Max Olson
7. BYU Cougars
Previous ranking: 8
After an underwhelming offensive performance last week, the Cougars responded with a better showing in a 24-10 win against Iowa State. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 22 of 30 passes for 329 yards with a pair of touchdowns and also ran for 109 yards on nine carries. Without running back LJ Martin, the Cougars needed to find a way to evolve, and it appears that leaning back into Bachmeier's strengths -- like they did for much of the 2025 season -- is one of the solutions. But Martin's injury looms as a massive loss ahead of Notre Dame's trip to Provo this week. -- Kyle Bonagura
8. UCLA Bruins
Previous ranking: 16
The Bruins are not fading in any way. The 4-0 start was supposed to finally meet its match as they traveled to Eugene, where few teams have escaped with a win. Instead, Bob Chesney's team buckled in and grinded its way to a 17-15 win that did not tell the full story. UCLA's defense was relentless and forced a whopping seven turnovers on the day, while the offense didn't need to do much but survive with backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach under center. It was a signature win -- an important one -- but also another statement that continues to back up what is becoming a college football adage: Wherever Chesney goes, wins seem to follow. The Bruins' turnaround is not just remarkable; it also has quickly transformed a program from an underdog into a team that has a real shot to make it to the College Football Playoff. -- Paolo Uggetti
9. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous ranking: 10
After surrendering 302 rushing yards in a 52-28 loss to Florida two weeks ago, the Ole Miss defense performed much better Saturday in a 52-17 rout of Vanderbilt on the road. The Rebels allowed only 2.8 yards per carry, forced four turnovers that led to 24 points and had three sacks. There weren't as many breakdowns in the secondary and missed tackles overall. Rebels coach Pete Golding wanted his defense to be more violent at the point of attack and win one-on-ones. His defense delivered against the Commodores. Ole Miss plays Missouri, Texas and Georgia over the next month, so it will have to continue to improve. -- Schlabach
10. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 1
The Longhorns lost in painful fashion in their biggest rivalry game, allowing just 238 yards but giving up touchdowns on a blocked punt and an interception return, with Arch Manning throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions. Steve Sarkisian said he was frustrated with the inconsistency on offense (the Longhorns averaged 3.8 yards per rush), and penalties hurt Texas in key situations. But he vowed that the Longhorns would "get up off the mat," and they'll need to fast, with a schedule that includes Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri and LSU over the next five weeks. -- Dave Wilson
11. Utah Utes
Previous ranking: 11
Four games into the season, Utah hadn't faced any real adversity. So when Kansas cut Utah's lead to 27-24 late in the third quarter, it was a chance to show something new -- whether it could respond. And the results were encouraging: The Utes scored on a pair of long touchdown drives in the fourth quarter and held Kansas scoreless the rest of the way in a 41-24 win. -- Bonagura
12. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Previous ranking: 13
The good news is the Red Raiders reached their bye week at 5-0, and the defense has been strong, allowing just 16.2 points per game, including grabbing seven interceptions in the past two games. But the Red Raiders' offense is still a work in progress. Will Hammond, a first-year full-time starter, has thrown just five touchdown passes along with five interceptions. Backup Thomas Castellanos, a transfer from Florida State who had a role in some packages and had two passing TDs and two rushing scores, was ruled ineligible recently, and the Red Raiders are awaiting a hearing to determine if he is reinstated. Tech hosts Arizona State next weekend hoping to find some answers on offense for the stretch run of the season. -- Wilson
13. Missouri Tigers
Previous ranking: 15
The Tigers have another elite running back in Jamal Roberts. The elusive senior from St. Louis carried 34 times for 222 yards -- both career highs -- and a pair of touchdowns on Saturday in a comfortable 27-6 victory over Texas A&M, capped by Roberts' 54-yard rushing score in the closing minutes. In the process, Roberts, who was following up a 211-yard outburst against Florida in Week 5, joined Derrick Henry (Alabama) and Leonard Fournette (LSU) as only the third SEC running back to record back-to-back 200-yard rushing efforts over the past 20 years. The absence of 2025 SEC rushing yards leader Ahmad Hardy was supposed to be a drag on Missouri's offense. Instead, Roberts has made a star turn of his own across the first half of the season, leading the SEC with 147 attempts and 828 rushing yards, including an FBS-best 405 yards after contact, per ESPN Research. If/when Hardy returns, the Tigers' backfield will once again boast one of the nation's best one-two punches. Until then, Roberts has Missouri covered. -- Eli Lederman
14. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous ranking: NR
Among many other qualities, Will Stein's new-look Wildcats are gutsy and resilient. For a second straight week, Kentucky recovered after squandering a fourth-quarter lead to beat an SEC opponent with a bold 2-point conversion in overtime, this time sealing a 35-34 home win over Lane Kiffin and No. 10 LSU with quarterback Kenny Minchey's 2-yard run. In doing so, the Wildcats became the first FBS team to win consecutive games by one point in overtime since overtime rules were introduced in 1996, per ESPN Research. From Minchey's dash to running back CJ Baxter's game-tying score to the crucial chunk plays from freshman pass catcher Kenny Darby -- a former LSU commit -- the roster Stein has assembled in his debut season showed its toughness once again. That bodes well for the present and future of a Kentucky team that travels to Oklahoma at 5-1 for the first time since 2023. -- Lederman
15. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous ranking: 17
Jeff Lebby said it after last week's loss to Alabama and said it again a few days later during the bye week -- any update on the health of star quarterback Kamario Taylor won't come until the SEC availability report on Wednesday. Taylor certainly didn't look himself against Alabama as he was clearly dealing with a lower leg injury. While he can make plays from the pocket, his mobility is a difference-maker and could be needed as the Bulldogs prepare to go on the road to No. 22 LSU. How or if standout running back Fluff Bothwell comes back from his injury is another unanswered question heading into the trip to Baton Rouge. -- Scarborough
16. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Previous ranking: 18
Drew Mestemaker and Oklahoma State's defense stepped up in the second half of a 21-21 game and made the big plays in critical moments once again for a 42-28 home victory over UCF. Mestemaker put up 304 passing yards with a bunch of big-time throws and scored three total TDs. The defense delivered a 28-yard scoop-and-score from Evan Jackson early in the fourth quarter followed by a quick fourth-down stop that allowed the Cowboys to put the game away. Eric Morris' squad is scoring 45.3 points per game since its bizarre Week 1 loss to Tulsa and is building momentum each week. Now it's time for a major test: a primetime game at No. 20 Houston with major implications for the Big 12 title race. -- Olson
17. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 19
Say what you want about the state of the Penn State squad that USC faced Saturday in State College -- a win is a win, especially one on the road during the annual White Out game. It's no wonder Lincoln Riley and the team relished the victory as much as they did postgame. The loss to Oregon at home a few weeks ago was a blemish they can't go back and erase, but it's one they can diminish should they keep winning. Despite not exactly running away from inferior teams such as Washington and Penn State with their talent, the Trojans appear far from done. It helped too that they were able to have wide receiver Trent Mosley back. The freshman phenom (nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown) is a star already and clearly has the ability to turn USC's already potent offense into an even more dynamic unit. -- Uggetti
18. Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous ranking: 23
The Hawkeyes are proving to be a legitimate playoff threat. Yes, the blowout loss at home to Ohio State last weekend was disheartening. But Iowa bounced back with a dominant performance in the 41-24 Friday night win at Washington. Kamari Moulton, who ran for a career-high 208 yards, set the tone, while tight end DJ Vonnahme came through for backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski with two big touchdown grabs. Defensively, the Hawkeyes held the Huskies to 95 total yards in the first half before knocking quarterback Demond Williams Jr. out of the game. Iowa still has road trips to Minnesota (Oct. 24) and Northwestern (Nov. 7) and home tilts against Wisconsin (Oct. 31) and Nebraska (Nov. 27) ahead. But as Friday showed, the Hawkeyes are good enough on both sides of the ball to make a real run to the playoff. -- Trotter
19. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: 20
Keep an eye on the Vols' quarterback situation. Coach Josh Heupel decided to start George MacIntyre vs. Arkansas after he came off the bench and led Tennessee to a win over Auburn. A Faizon Brandon injury was part of the calculus. But MacIntyre did not play well against a struggling Razorbacks team, throwing for one touchdown and two interceptions in a sloppy 24-17 win. What's more, he ran twice for minus-6 yards. With No. 6 Alabama coming to Neyland Stadium on Saturday, it will be interesting to see whether Heupel flips back to the true freshman Brandon in an attempt to breathe life into the offense. -- Scarborough
20. Houston Cougars
Previous ranking: 24
The Cougars' 35-16 win against Kansas State might have been their best performance of the season -- an encouraging sign about the direction of the team. Conner Weigman has 15 touchdown passes to just one interception and has added six touchdowns on the ground. He is playing at a level that will keep Houston in every Big 12 game. The Cougars have a pair of big ones coming up the next two weeks against Oklahoma State and Utah. -- Bonagura
21. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Previous ranking: NR
If there were any doubts about the No. 2 team in the ACC, Wake Forest erased those with a definitive 38-14 win over NC State. The Demon Deacons trailed 14-10 at halftime and rolled with 28 unanswered points in the second half to win. Gio Lopez is playing like a quarterback completely transformed -- throwing for 303 yards and scoring four total touchdowns. His 13 passing touchdowns are three more than he had in 11 games with North Carolina last season. Meanwhile, Carlos Hernandez and Jack Foley became the first pair of Wake Forest teammates to gain 100 or more receiving yards since 2021. It all added up to the Deacons' biggest win at NC State since Oct. 16, 1943. -- Adelson
22. Boise State Broncos
Previous ranking: 22
With 512 yards of total offense, including 150 on the ground from FBS rushing yards leader Dylan Riley, the playoff-chasing Broncos passed one of the biggest remaining tests on their schedule. Boise State dominated possession (38:56 to 21:04) and held off a late rally to topple Fresno State 38-31 on the road Saturday night, snapping a three-game skid against the Bulldogs. Waiting for the Broncos on the other side of a Week 7 bye are three straight games against sub-.500 Pac-12 opponents before a seismic Nov. 14 visit from Oregon State, which could have significant implications for the conference and the CFP race. The last time Boise State started 5-0, it made the playoff in 2024. By getting over the hump against Fresno State, the Broncos have once again placed themselves in strong position for the 12-team field. -- Lederman
23. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 9
The Tigers' CFP hopes are on life support after a second loss on the road, this time a 35-34 overtime thriller at Kentucky on Saturday night. LSU also fell 32-24 in coach Lane Kiffin's return to Ole Miss, and with two losses, there is absolutely no margin for error the rest of the way. That isn't good with games remaining against Mississippi State on Saturday and then three straight against Alabama, Texas and Tennessee in November. LSU's defense had been pretty good this season, but the Tigers surrendered 401 yards against Kentucky, including 155 rushing. That made Kiffin's decision to punt on fourth-and-1 from LSU's 43 with 1:46 to go even more perplexing. -- Schlabach
24. SMU Mustangs
Previous ranking: NR
The Mustangs had the week off, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a successful week for SMU. Duke, Virginia Tech and Pitt all lost, further cementing SMU as the clear-cut No. 2 team in the conference. There's certainly a lot of football left to be played, but with so many of the other contenders in the conference faltering, the Mustangs' Nov. 14 date with Wake Forest now looms awfully large in the quest to decide who's most likely to challenge Miami for ACC supremacy -- and a possible playoff berth. -- Hale
25. Arizona Wildcats
Previous ranking: NR
The Wildcats have some depth. Despite being without their top three receivers for the trip to West Virginia, the offense didn't miss a beat. Noah Fifita threw three touchdown passes, including two to Isaiah Mizell, who had six catches for 183 yards. Arizona hosts Iowa State this week before a trip to Texas Tech in two weeks. -- Bonagura